Shares slipped 4.6% to $7.05 as the company also said gross margin in the latest period will be lower-than-expected.

Kemet said it now expects revenue of $217 million to $219 million, down from its prior view of $228 million to $238 million. Gross margin is expected to be between 18% and 19%, below its earlier view of 19% to 22%.

Kemet, one of the biggest makers of capacitors, said third-quarter order-intake improved slightly from the prior quarter and said it believes its market share remains unchanged.

The company plans to release its results Feb. 2.

Kemet has been aggressively expanding in alternative energy, aiming to integrate more of its products into solar panels, windmills and hybrid vehicles. That’s a switch from Kemet’s traditional markets such as cellphones, computers and televisions.

SOURCE: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/kemet-warns-of-disappointing-third-quarter-sales-2012-01-13

In February, Peoples repurchased $21 million of the $39 million it received in January 2009.

“We are pleased to report our ability to repay the remaining portion of our TARP Capital, which will occur without the need to issue any new common equity due to our already strong capital and liquidity levels,” said President and Chief Executive Chuck Sulerzyski.

The bank holding company reported in October its third-quarter profit soared on a significantly lower provision for loan losses.

Shares closed Thursday at $14.95 and were inactive premarket. The stock has fallen 4.5% since the start of the year.

SOURCE: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/peoples-bancorp-ohio-to-repay-rest-of-tarp-funds-2011-12-23

The sale, which includes small-business and consumer cards, is the latest in a string of divestitures by Charlotte, N.C.-based Bank of America aimed at shedding unwanted assets.

U.S. Bancorp said Wednesday Elan Financial Services, its card processing and issuing unit, acquired the portfolio from FIA Card Services, Bank of America’s credit-card unit. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed but U.S. Bancorp said accounts include those issued on behalf of 28 financial institutions, including Edward Jones & Co. that offers the cards through its more than 11,000 U.S. financial advisors.

Elan will continue marketing the cards under the name of its financial institution partners. A spokeswoman for Minneapolis-based U.S. Bancorp declined to name the other institutions.

Bank of America has been scaling back in this area in an effort to raise capital.

Regions Financial Corp. RF -0.71% in June purchased a $1 billion portfolio of credit-card loans from FIA that had been issued in Regions’ name. In August, Bank of America announced a deal to sell its $8.6 billion Canadian card portfolio to Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD, TD.T) while also saying it planned to sell its credit-card operations in the U.K. and Ireland.

That unit, MBNA Europe, was likely to draw at least four bids from potential buyers, Dow Jones Newswires reported last week.

SOURCE: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/b-of-a-sells-700-million-card-portfolio-2011-12-21

Colbert Seagraves, Viper Motorcycle Company’s Vice President of Marketing and Racing Operations stated, “We plan to have the Platinum Distribution agreement in place with AMV during the first quarter of 2012.  As we continue to move forward expanding our dealer network, our commitment to excellence is represented by our choice of Platinum Overseas Distributors.” 

Graham Manchester, Managing Director of AMV said “AMV is delighted to enter a formal agreement with Viper Motorcycles and already has an ongoing relationship with Ilmor in the UK. We were pleased to be told that Ilmor were involved in building a special V twin for the new Viper motorcycle. This bike breaks new territory in the UK and Europe, being dubbed  a “supercruiser” and, with the new EU regulations looming, a slowing market in sports bikes and very little new in naked or existing V twins, this new bike offers serious riders a new and exciting form of two wheeled enjoyment and above all it has an engine built in the UK.

“AMV specializes in the development of new markets, especially for exotic motorcycles. Initially, for the sales of Viper motorcycles, we will be looking to appoint two outlets in the UK, one in the North West and one in London; we will also be seeking to expand the brand onto the mainland of Europe.” AMV can be contacted in the UK, 0844 800 28 20 or email info@amvmotorcycles.com

John Silseth, CEO of Viper Powersports stated, “The Viper Diamondback Super Cruiser is in a league of its own and we are setting up a worldwide distribution network to match.   We recently signed our initial Platinum distributor out of Dubai, and bringing AMV motorcycles on as our second overseas distributor is key to developing Viper into a truly worldwide brand.”

ABOUT VIPER POWERSPORTS, INC: Viper Powersports designs, manufactures and markets a line of premium American V-Twin Super Cruiser motorcycles, V-Twin aftermarket engines and other related aftermarket products through an independent dealer network. Joint venture partner Ilmor Engineering (www.ilmor.com), provides technical developmental support for the proprietary 152 cubic inch Viper V-Twin engine, utilizing their 25 years of engine design expertise, ensuring Viper’s long term success as America’s newest domestic OEM of motorcycles. Viper Motorcycle Company website is www.vipermotorcycle.com.

The foregoing material may contain forward-looking statements. We caution that such statements may be subject to uncertainties and that actual results could differ materially from the fore-going statements. Readers accordingly should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which do not reflect anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances occurring after the date of these forward-looking statements.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Colbert Seagraves
VP of Marketing & Racing Operations
Viper Motorcycle Company
Tel: (334) 321-4284
E: cseagraves@vipermotorcycle.com

John R. Silseth
Chief Executive Officer
Viper Powersports, Inc.
Tel: (334) 887-4445
E: jsilseth@viperpowersports.com 

Timothy C. Kling
Investor Relations
Chief Financial Officer
Viper Powersports, Inc. 
Tel: (334) 887-4445
E: tkling@viperpowersports.com

SOURCE: http://www.viperpowersports.com/

The packaging company said it expects sales to grow to roughly $5 billion in 2012, well ahead of the $4.57 billion currently expected by analysts polled by Thomson Reuters. Earnings for the year were estimated in the range of $2.47 to $2.57 a share, bracketing the $2.54 a share expected by analysts.

Demand from industrial customers has helped boost Sonoco’s volumes over the past year. Like many companies, Sonoco has been working to offset rising commodities costs and weakened consumer spending of late, a trend it has said it hopes to offset with new product sales and other efforts.

The company last month completed the acquisition of protective-packaging provider Tegrant Corp. for $550 million in cash from private-equity firm Metalmark Capital, a deal that will help it expand in other markets.

The company on Friday also estimated capital expenditures of $185 million next year, up from an expected $155 million this year, as it focuses on new growth projects as well as additional capital needs related to the recent addition of Tegrant’s operations.

Sonoco President and Chief Operating Officer M. Jack Sanders on Friday noted the global protective packaging industry serves an estimated $15 billion market that is expected by experts to grow to $23 billion in the years ahead.

“In addition to expecting 3% to 5% market growth over the next several years, this industry remains highly fragmented and we believe it is ripe for consolidation,” Sanders said.

The company in October reported its third-quarter earnings rose 31% as higher selling prices helped boost revenue 6.9% to $1.12 billion.

Shares were recently up 1.7% to $32.65.

SOURCE: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/sonoco-sees-2012-sales-ahead-of-expectations-2011-12-02

The unit’s Chief Operating Officer Eric Lane will replace Forst and run the division with the other co-head, Tim O’Neill, the report said.

Full story at http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/12/02/top-goldman-sachs-executive-departs/

SOURCE: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/goldman-co-head-of-asset-management-retires-nyt-2011-12-02

“Willie Chiang…has elected to retire when?? the repositioning is completed in the second quarter of 2012,”?? Conoco’s spokesman John Roper said in an email, adding that Chiang will remain in his current role as senior vice president until then.

“He is a valued member?? of our executive team and will continue to be fully engaged as ConocoPhillips?? repositions into two leading energy companies,” the spokesman said.

Chiang’s decision comes after the oil giant named Greg Garland as the chairman and chief executive of the new independent oil refining company last month, a move that surprised some investors who expected Chiang to become the new CEO of the refining arm.

Garland currently serves as Conoco’s senior vice president of Americas exploration and production.

Chiang’s retirement will add to a string of executives that have left or will leave the company in coming months. The list includes Chief Executive Jim Mulva, who also has said he will retire next year.

ConocoPhillips, the third-largest U.S. oil company by market value after Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) and Chevron Corp. (CVX), is in the midst of a three-year restructuring process aimed at shoring up its finances. The company has said the separation of its downstream business will increase shareholders’ value as it will create two more-focused, efficient organizations with higher growth potential.

ConocoPhillips announced Thursday its refining spinoff will be named Phillips 66.

SOURCE: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/conoco-senior-vp-of-refining-to-retire-after-split-2011-11-12

Citing people familiar with the matter, the report said that Yahoo’s stake in the Japanese business is seen as as an asset that can be disposed of relatively quickly.

Yahoo is exploring the possibility of allowing Softbank Corp. (9984.TO), which owns a roughly 40% stake in Yahoo Japan, or the Japanese business itself, to raise money against the stake and buy out Yahoo in a tax efficient manner.

Yahoo Japan has a total market value of about $19 billion, the report said.

SOURCE: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/yahoo-nears-sale-of-yahoo-japan-stake-report-2011-10-06

“Our top priority at Radian is to write as much new, high-quality mortgage insurance business as possible,” said Teresa Bryce Bazemore, president of Radian Guaranty Inc. “We are taking advantage of every opportunity to grow our business, including increasing our sales presence in key markets across the country and signing more than 150 new customers over the past year.”

The mortgage insurer, which experienced soaring claims during the housing crisis, has recently benefited from a decline in delinquencies and lower loss provisions. The company has more than 700 employees.

Many mortgage trackers have reported rates at or near historic lows lately, as worries about European debt pressure yields on U.S. Treasury bonds. Mortgage rates tend to follow the yields.

Last month, it reported it swung to a second-quarter profit on large derivatives gains and a smaller provision for mortgage insurance losses.

Shares were up 2.2% to $2.25 after hours and are off 73% so far this year through the close.

SOURCE: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/radian-cuts-7-of-corporate-insurance-staff-2011-09-22

The bank had announced the cuts last month and warned that eliminations in the investment bank and trading operations would represent about 3% to 5% of the operations.

The industrial group cuts, totaling 13 investment bankers, were reported earlier by Bloomberg News, which said they included David Iwan and Egan Antill, two managing directors.

Bank of America is trimming another 30,000 jobs in its consumer-related business in the coming years, but the 3,500 job cuts were not a part of that plan.

Further job cuts to the investment bank could be a part of the second phase of cost-savings in the businesses that deal with corporate clients, a phase due to be planned out through next spring.

Bank of America is currently third in the league tables for all investment banking fees, as measured by dollars by Dealogic.

SOURCE: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bank-of-america-trims-industrial-bankers-2011-09-20